Old Firm in peace pact as Ally McCoist and Johan Mjallby promise calm

Both sides of the Old Firm insist Sunday's Hampden showdown will not be marred by the shameful scenes of their last encounter.

The Celtic and Rangers squads, and backroom staff, were visited at their training grounds by police yesterday to be briefed on their responsibilities ahead of the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final.

With the match being beamed live to 120 countries, and a worldwide audience in excess of 50million, the spotlight is on the Glasgow giants as never before in the wake of their ill-tempered Scottish Cup clash.

Ugly scenes: The last Old Firm clash descended into farce as coaches and players clashed

But Rangers No2 Ally McCoist and his Celtic counterpart Johan Mjallby are promising a showpiece occasion far removed from the ugly spectacle that led to recriminations and a Holyrood summit.

‘Everybody now knows their responsibilities for Sunday,’ said McCoist, whose appeal against a two-match ban will allow him to take his place in the Hampden dugout.

‘Sometimes things happen in the game but it’s fine now. We all need to move on. Hopefully, we can have a great cup final that everybody is talking about for days thereafter. It can be a showpiece occasion.’

Asked specifically about his spat with Neil Lennon, McCoist was at pains to stress there will be no hangover.

‘Absolutely not,’ he said. ‘It was done and dusted when I left Celtic Park that night. I can’t speak for Neil but, knowing him, I would imagine he feels the exact same. Neil and I have had fantastic relations up until that wee fall-out. And we’ve both put that behind us.

Summit: The Scottish Government has waded in, as have police keen to end the debacle

‘The police were in at Murray Park this morning. They addressed the players and they were great. ‘The police have a job to do around Old Firm games and appreciate the importance the game has for everyone.

‘They just want to do what is right and are within their rights to come and speak to us. If it was a gentle reminder, then fine.’

Mjallby, himself involved in a tunnel bust-up with Rangers players El-Hadji Diouf and Kyle Bartley on a night when Lennon and McCoist had to be pulled apart, agreed with the Ibrox No2.

Marching orders: Red cards are fast becoming more common than goals in meetings between Scotland's big two

The Swede, who has assumed media duties as Lennon stays out of the spotlight and serves a touchline ban, said: ‘On our own part, our players were quite composed that night. The rest of us were disappointing, the coaching staff. We have to take that on board.

‘We have to take the blame and try to learn from it. When I look back at what happened with me, I don’t like to see that. I reacted but it’s forgotten now.’

Match Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Bates spoke to both teams about their duties as role models for supporters. With the threat of prosecution hanging over players and management if they step out of line, he said: ‘This is a match that gives both clubs the opportunity to showcase our game to a global audience.

‘Both teams must concentrate on doing their job. They don’t want to be reading headlines about arrests, violence or domestic abuse any more than I do.’